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Toyota RAV4 (5th Gen)

19-24 · Toyota RAV4

81out of 100

The best-selling vehicle in America for a reason. The 5th gen RAV4 is the standard against which every other compact SUV is judged.

Score breakdown

90/ 100Reliability×2.584/ 100True Annual Cost×2.095/ 100Safety×2.565/ 100Practicality×2.050/ 100Repairability×1.0

Our take

What it really is

Toyota's TNGA-K platform transformed the RAV4 from adequate to genuinely good. The A25A engine is reliable to 200k+ miles. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard across all trims from 2020.

Why it's on this list

IIHS TSP+ every year. 5-star NHTSA. 25% 5-year depreciation, exceptional for a crossover. Annual maintenance of $429/yr. The hybrid variant adds 10 MPG with minimal reliability penalty.

The honest trade-offs

Highway ride and NVH are adequate, not exceptional. The base 2.5L feels strained at highway speeds for passing. Interior materials at the base trim are functional but not premium.

What to buy and what to avoid

2020+ for updated Toyota Safety Sense. XLE or XLE Premium for the better interior. RAV4 Hybrid if you drive more than 12k miles/year. The fuel savings and resale premium justify the cost difference.

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$1,320 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$429 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$200 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$1,922 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,172 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$2,671 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$1,921 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
30[5]
MPG city / hwy
27 / 35[5]
Tank
14.5 gal[5]
Engine
A25A-FKS 2.5L
Horsepower
203 hp
Torque
184 lb-ft
Seats
5
Cargo (behind 2nd row)
37.5 cu ft
Cargo max
69.8 cu ft
Tow capacity
3,500 lbs
Ground clearance
8.4"
Stock tires
225/65R17
Body
SUV
Rear seats
60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall
5/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
14%[2]
IIHS rating
Good[4]
ESC standard
Yes

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity
Minimal
Frame rust risk
Minimal

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$429 (USD)[1]
Industry avg annual cost
$652 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
4.5/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
0.5[1]
Severe issue probability
7%[1]
250k-mile survival
55%[7]

Repairability

Headlight type
Led Assembly
At major retailer
Yes
Headlight benchmark
5/10

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Toyota RAV4?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

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